Moving To Saudi Arabia

The Overseas Moving Specialists

Customs Regulations for Saudi Arabia

All documents show customers name exactly as it appears on passport. Do not use initials or abbreviations for companies (Saudi Government will not accept these documents)

Passport (copy) with entry visa
Residence Permit
Work Permit
Proof of Employment legalized by Saudi Chamber of Commerce or a Saudi Government Agency
Certificate of Health, stating customer does not have AIDS
Inventory (original) with description of contents of cartons-PBO (packed by owner), CU (contents unknown) and MISC (miscellaneous) are not acceptable (MUST be legalized by the Saudi Embassy or Consulate and translated into Arabic)
Purchase receipts for major household good items
Certificate of Origin (for new items), itemized, with price for each article (MUST be legalized by the Saudi Embassy or Consulate and translated into Arabic)
Original valued inventory for Customs purposes
Keys for any locked items for Customs inspection
Certificate of Insurance, if applicable
SASO Certificate of Conformity for all electrical items imported into the country
Letter of Undertaking authorizing destination agent to perform Customs clearance

Documents for surface shipments must be received at destination a minimum of seven days prior to arrival of vessel

Customer must be in Saudi Arabia at time of Customs clearance
Import of consolidation or groupage shipments are not allowed, heavy penalties will be imposed for violations
All shipments are inspected and subject to duty, including used household goods and personal effects
Shipments are valued locally and rates vary depending on the item
Containers and trailers must have a comprehensive packing list of all contents (in a water-proof envelope) taped to the rear door with customer’s full name and address (Failure to comply will result in heavy fines)
Shipments arriving in Saudi Arabia without a comprehensive packing list are subject to unloading and full tally at port of discharge
“Make Mark” information: all goods imported into the country must show the country of origin, such as “made in USA” or “made in Japan” (This mark must tally with the legalized documents presented to Customs for clearance)

Failure to comply with these regulations will prohibit goods entry into Saudi Arabia

Alcohol and any items containing alcohol, such as: flavoring extracts, cooking wines, and wine making kits
Books on manufacturing alcoholic drinks or any foods with alcohol
Narcotics
Radio transmitter/communication equipment (including walkie-talkies, short-wave, VHF, marine, police band equipment, etc.)
Binoculars or telescopic equipment
Statues, figurines, or carvings
Games of chance (chess, dice, backgammon)
All weapons and firearms (real or ornamental), including guns, ammunition, fireworks, spears and other edged weapons (owner will be subject to investigation, fines, and/or imprisonment)
Pornographic material and literature (including fashion magazines with people wearing undergarments or swimsuits)
Politically sensitive materials
Foodstuffs
Stuffed animals
Articles contrary to Muslim or Saudi Arabian moral beliefs
Christmas trees/decorations, bibles or any other items associated with religions other than the Muslim faith
Military uniforms or equipment

Medicines (must be accompanied by doctors prescription and for personal use only)
All printed materials, books, pictures, records, films, tapes, slides, movies, videos, CDs, DVDs, computer software, etc. are subject to censorship and confiscation (these items should be packed separately for easy access and clearly marked on your inventory)
- These items will be removed from all incoming shipments at the time of Customs clearance and sent to the Ministry of Information for review
- Once censorship has been completed, a separate delivery will be made at an additional charge to the customer
- Any restricted or prohibited items in shipment will cause delays, may be subject to confiscation and may cause possible fines or penalties to customer’s account

Shipments with vehicles in containers are not allowed in Saudi Arabia
Shipper’s name must match on all documents (such as passport, shipping documents and vehicle ownership)
One car is allowed per family and must be in accordance with Saudi Arabian standards
Vehicles with the model year 1974 or older cannot be imported
The following information must be furnished to the steamship company for all vehicles shipped to Saudi Arabia:
- make, model, year, color, engine and chassis number, license and serial number, weight, dimensions of auto with bumpers, owners address at origin, date car was last registered in origin country, customer’s destination address, including phone contact overseas
Vehicle must be registered as soon after clearance as possible
Documents required:
- Proof of Ownership (Title)
- SASO Certificate
- Legalized Purchase Invoice and Certificate of Origin
- Proof of insurance
- For used cars, Certificate from Interpol, or origin traffic police, showing there is no police case against car
- Copy of Passport and Residence Permit (IQAMA)
- Letter of Saudi sponsor
- Letter of Authorization from consignee to clear car
- Customs Fee Declaration
- Landing Authorization
- Valid Saudi driver’s license required for registration

When importing a petto Russia, they will need to have the following documentation:

Vaccination records
Veterinary health certificate bearing a seal of the local Board of Health (issued no more than 10 days prior to arrival)
Import license
Identification (tattoo or microchip)
Animals other than dogs and cats require special import permission from the Ministry of Agriculture

NOTE – Customs regulations are subject to change at any time. The proceeding information is a brief summary of customs regulations applicable to household goods shipments to this destination and is being provided for general guidance to assist our Agents and customers. Since such regulations are subject to change without notice, International Sea & Air Shipping cannot be held liable for any costs, damage, delays, or other detrimental events resulting from non-compliance. Always double check with your local embassy or consulate.

Call our International Moving Specialists @ 1 (866) 788-1090

How International Sea & Air Shipping can help for moving to Saudi Arabia

At International Sea & Air Shipping, our professional moving specialists are trained to advise you and oversee your entire overseas move to Saudi Arabia. We offer a variety of shipping services to meet your needs:

Your moving timeline. When do you need to be in Saudi Arabia? Should you ship your goods via air or sea freight?
Your real estate plans. Will you be renting or buying a home?
Your fragile items. Do you require packing or custom crating services?
Your family/household size. Are you moving alone or with family? For business or personal reasons?
Your cubic feet estimate. How large is your shipment?

How Much Does a Move to Saudi Arabia Cost?

Every customer considers cost an important factor when planning an international move. When moving to Saudi Arabia, the cost will depend on a variety of factors. Schedule a free in-home estimate today with International Sea & Air Shipping and one of our trained moving specialists will visit your home to assess your goods, determine the cubic footage of your shipment, and answer all of your questions. You will then receive a free quote for international goods shipping and the overseas moving services you require.

We calculate your costs based on your shipment’s cubic footage, your shipment method (air vs. sea freight) your required services (packing and custom crating), and several other factors.

About Saudi Arabia

Also known as The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the country is the world’s 14^th largest, but one of the most sparsely populated in the world. Founded in 1932 by Abdu-Aziz bin Saud, Saudi Arabia is commonly called “The Land of the Two Holy Mosques.” The country is home to Mecca and Medina, the two holiest places in Islam.

Saudi Arabia is the third largest country in the Middle East, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula. Saudi Arabia’s bordering nations are Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, UAE, and Yemen. It is the only country with both a Red Sea and a Persian Gulf coast.

The country is home to the world’s largest oil reserves and is the largest oil exporter in the world. Saudi Arabia’s export and import partners are: Japan, South Korea, USA, China, India, Taiwan, Singapore, Germany, UK and France.